News Release: https://5il.co/897x
Au Gres-Sims Science Educator Selected as a 2019 Dow Innovation Teacher Fellow
June 19, 2019
AU GRES, MI – Au Gres-Sims School District is proud to announce that one of their science teachers, Luke Freeman, has been selected as a 2019 Dow Innovation Teacher Fellow – a program of the Andrew N. Liveris Innovation Institute. The 2019 Dow Innovation Teacher Fellow Program is a result of a new partnership between Dow, University of Michigan, and Delta College to create a new innovation and education hub in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
Dow has partnered with the University of Michigan's Center for Education Design, Evaluation, and Research (CEDER), and Delta College to empower teachers and students to be change agents around sustainability issues in their communities. The Dow Innovation Teacher Fellowship supports secondary teachers across content areas in designing and implementing a sustainability-focused unit using project-based and place-based learning approaches. Sustainability is an interdisciplinary topic that has clear connections to STEM, civics (policy), economics, communications, and literature within curriculum themes.
This experience allows Mr. Freeman to: Participate in 3 days of professional development and curriculum design on project and place-based learning; Connect with a community partner (e.g., a business, nonprofit, government agency, neighbors, etc.) around a water, food, or plastic waste problem; and Design and implement a learning unit of at least one week in length on a sustainability problem - with support from content and pedagogy experts from Dow, University of Michigan, and Delta College.
As a 2019 Dow Innovation Teacher Fellow, Mr. Freeman will receive: • Professional development and design support, both through in-person trainings and meetings and through online consultations with a curriculum developer, to aid in the development of instructional materials;
• A stipend of $2,000;
• Up to $1,000 for project related expenses (transportation, classroom materials, etc.);
• Connection to potential local partners;
• Opportunities to showcase his student’s work and highlight school and community connections;
• Opportunities to network with teacher colleagues in the region and university experts in sustainability issues; and,
• Access to curated online resources for sustainability education.
Mr. Freeman stated, “As a progressive school district, Au Gres-Sims invites innovative approaches to education, including place-based learning opportunities for students to engage in science, with a hands-on real-life approach.” He continued, “With our location directly adjacent to the Saginaw Bay, and with access to Lake Huron and nearby rivers and tributaries, environmental stewardship remains a top priority for the Au Gres-Sims School District. Inviting other educational institutions to collaborate and provide unique learning opportunities is an amazing win for our students. The 2019 Dow Innovation Teacher Fellowship will allow our vision of place-based education to continue to flourish, focusing on food systems and water quality topics that ultimately impact our community, nation, and our global neighbors.”
For more information about the 2019 Dow Innovation Teacher Fellow Program: https://bec.umich.edu/dow-university-of-michigan-delta-college-collaborate-to-create-new-innovation-and-education-hub-in-the-great-lakes-bay-region/ https://bized.aacsb.edu/articles/2018/11/dow-and-um-target-stem-education
About Au Gres-Sims School District Au Gres-Sims School District, a "Destination District," is located in Arenac County, Michigan. The district is nestled on the sunrise side of Lake Huron and includes the Charity Islands. There are roughly 27 miles of shoreline, which ranges from natural frontage and sugar sand beaches to residential property. Au Gres is renowned for offering an incredible quality of life, abundant natural resources, and a rich cultural history.
Au Gres-Sims School District is proud to be known as a “public school with a private school feel” for its combined strength in academic achievement and entire preschool through twelfth grade school experiences. Au Gres-Sims is a progressive district that is recognized statewide, as well as nationally, for consistently and proactively modeling best educational practices using data-driven research and advanced technology. The district remains dedicated to creating a Culture of Learning that provides career and college resource opportunities for learners to gain advanced skill acquisition for an internationally competitive job market within a global economy. To learn more about Au Gres-Sims School District, visit: www.ags-schools.org
# # #